Man shot, killed
Police searching for man seen running from the scene

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

Gallup CSI Detective Emery Holly shines a flashlight over the blood stained pavement while inspecting the scene of a shooting with fellow Gallup Police Detective Andy Yearley early Thursday morning at the PiÒon Hills Apartments. The victim was shot once in the head and was taken to the hospital by Medstar Ambulance. His condition was unavailable by press time. Police are still looking for the suspects. [Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Independent]

GALLUP — Police are investigating an overnight shooting that left one man dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

Erin Toadlena-Pablo, a spokeswoman for the Gallup Police Department, confirmed the shooting took place at the Pion Hills Apartments, 2811 Dairy Drive, at about 12:45 a.m. outside apartment 56. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his wounds. Officials are withholding the victim's name until the next of kin are notified.

Toadlena-Pablo said. The victim's family members were expected to meet with police this morning.

Meanwhile, police are searching for a suspect who was last seen running eastbound along Dairy Drive. The young man was wearing a white pull-over jacket and is described as having a small build.

At least a half dozen officers converged at the site of the shooting just outside the complex unit identified as "Building 8."

Witnesses said the shooting occurred between two vehicles, a Honda Accord and a Kia Sportage, that were parked outside the complex. A pool of blood and two beer cans marked the location where the shooting occurred.

Detectives continued to gather evidence from the scene well into the early morning hours, but released few details about the investigation or a possible motive for the shooting.

One of the apartment's tenants, who refused to disclose her name because a suspect had not been arrested in the shooting, said she heard one gunshot that sounded like a "firecracker" and ran outside her apartment to find a young man bleeding from the head.

The man was trying to speak, she said. Neighbors immediately called 9-1-1 and tried to help the injured man who had collapsed to the ground.

Toadlena-Pablo said she expects additional information about the investigation by mid-morning.